Predictions of Other Games
In the Patriot League:
Georgetown at Davidson. Georgetown showed signs of breaking out of their offensive doldrums last week, and beating struggling Davidson handily will show this to the rest of I-AA. G'Town 38, Davidson 10.
Colgate at Bucknell. A must-win for the Raiders to keep their playoff and title hopes alive. Bucknell plays to build for next season, and to knock off their second playoff-bound team. I think Bucknell makes the statement for their outgoing seniors that they will be sticking around in the Patriot elite in a game which Colgate doesn't match up well. Bucknell 24, Colgate 17.
Holy Cross at Lafayette. With a Leopard win and Raider loss, next week's Lehigh/Lafayette game would become the Patriot League championship game. I'm thinking that will be the case, though I think the Crusaders will make it a lot closer than the folks in Easton would like. Lafayette 32, Holy Cross 28.
In the top 25:
Harvard at Penn. For the Ivy League championship game, logic tells me to not pick against Penn in the Ivy (where they have won somehting like 15 straight games). But Harvard has been a buzzsaw offensively these past weeks, whereas Penn have relied too heavily on their defense in their past four league games. The Penn streak ends today. Harvard busts the game open late. Harvard 34, Penn 21.
Towson at New Hampshire. Towson, who is playing out the string, would like nothing better than to deal UNH a league loss in order to get their first-ever A-10 league win. But that simply won't happen with their anemic offense. UNH 41, Towson 6.
William & Mary at James Madison. The game which will go a long way in determining the A-10 champion. The Dukes have been doing it with smoke and mirrors this year, but you can't deny that they are 8-1 with only a loss to I-A West Virginia . The Tribe are equally phenomenal, losing only to Delaware at the Tub and at I-A North Carolina. I think the Tribe are the right team to deliver the Duke's first I-AA loss, with their all-I-AA passing and recieving threats Lang Campbell and Dominique Thompson, with their defense doing just enough to win. Did I mention it would put the A-10 title race up in the air? W&M 28, JMU 24.
Delaware at Richmond. Would I love to be wrong about this game.. I don't see Richmond playing that perfect game against the Hens. The Hens "D" proves to be too tough, and the "O" proves to be too balanced. Delaware 24, Richmond 6.
Georgia Southern at Florida International. This game is going to be one big ugly in Miami. THe Golden Eagles will prove they can whup it up in Miami as well as Statesboro. GSU 58, FIU 3.
Furman at Wofford. Furman wins, and they will win the SoCon and probably get seeded in the I-AA playoffs. Wofford wins, and they can punch their ticket for the I-AA playoffs... but even if they lose, they still have a fighing chance. Wofford hasn't really yet beaten a quality opponent, and they won't beat a quality opponent today, even one coming off a huge win last week. Furman 42, Wofford 14.
Western Illinois at Western Kentucky. WIU can't stop anybody. The Hilltoppers have not impressed, but no way WIU will go into Bowling Green and beat a playoff-bound team. WKU 51, WIU 7.
Indiana St. at Southern Illinois. The Sycamores have lost 5 in a row. I'm banking on the fact that the #1 rated Salukis will make it 6. SIU 51, Indiana St. 9.
NC A&T at Hampton. The Pirates will make I-AA at-large playoff hopefuls around the land heave a sigh of relief by winning the game and clinching the MEAC title. Hampton 42, NC A&T 28.
Jacksonville St. at Eastern Illinois. This game looks like a real trap game to me... however... the Panthers are out of the playoff hunt, while the Gamecocks are one win away from clinching the OVC. Give me the scenario that all I-AA at-large teams are hoping for - but in a closer game that people expect. Jacksonville St. 24, EIU 22.
Sam Houston St. at Northwestern St. Sam Houston St. can do a lot of I-AA teams a favor by doing what nobody else has done this year - beat the Demons at Natchitoches. Can they? I think they. Although the Bearkat's defense gave up 47 points to hapless McNeese St. last week, I think they right the ship - but it will be a classic. Sam Houston 28, NW St. 27.
Sacramento St. at Montana. The Hornets pulled the shocker against Montana St. at home last week 38-28. They will find times in Bozeman much more difficult. Montana 38, Sac St. 17.
Eastern Washington at Montana St. The Eagles have been ripping through their schedule this year, and a win will clinch them a playoff spot. The Bobcats, after getting upset last week by Sacramento St., need a win this week to stay alive. The loser is definitely out of the playoff picture. Two deperate teams - who to choose? The Eagles are the hotter team - but the Bobcats are at home. After lots of thought, have to go with the hot team - the Eagles. MSU have squeaked by way too many cupcakes this year. It will be close, but EWU will prevail. EWU 31, MSU 28.
Northern Colorado/Cal Poly. Can Cal Poly get off the schneid, after losing 2 straight? I'm betting yes against a Northern Colorado team that surprisingly is still in the hunt for the Great West title (which does not come with an I-AA playoff bid). It will not be easy, but Cal Poly should pull this out in the end, keeing their playoff hopes alive. Cal Poly 24, NCU 17.
Lehigh/Fordham, 12:30PM: Be there!
In the Patriot League:
Georgetown at Davidson. Georgetown showed signs of breaking out of their offensive doldrums last week, and beating struggling Davidson handily will show this to the rest of I-AA. G'Town 38, Davidson 10.
Colgate at Bucknell. A must-win for the Raiders to keep their playoff and title hopes alive. Bucknell plays to build for next season, and to knock off their second playoff-bound team. I think Bucknell makes the statement for their outgoing seniors that they will be sticking around in the Patriot elite in a game which Colgate doesn't match up well. Bucknell 24, Colgate 17.
Holy Cross at Lafayette. With a Leopard win and Raider loss, next week's Lehigh/Lafayette game would become the Patriot League championship game. I'm thinking that will be the case, though I think the Crusaders will make it a lot closer than the folks in Easton would like. Lafayette 32, Holy Cross 28.
In the top 25:
Harvard at Penn. For the Ivy League championship game, logic tells me to not pick against Penn in the Ivy (where they have won somehting like 15 straight games). But Harvard has been a buzzsaw offensively these past weeks, whereas Penn have relied too heavily on their defense in their past four league games. The Penn streak ends today. Harvard busts the game open late. Harvard 34, Penn 21.
Towson at New Hampshire. Towson, who is playing out the string, would like nothing better than to deal UNH a league loss in order to get their first-ever A-10 league win. But that simply won't happen with their anemic offense. UNH 41, Towson 6.
William & Mary at James Madison. The game which will go a long way in determining the A-10 champion. The Dukes have been doing it with smoke and mirrors this year, but you can't deny that they are 8-1 with only a loss to I-A West Virginia . The Tribe are equally phenomenal, losing only to Delaware at the Tub and at I-A North Carolina. I think the Tribe are the right team to deliver the Duke's first I-AA loss, with their all-I-AA passing and recieving threats Lang Campbell and Dominique Thompson, with their defense doing just enough to win. Did I mention it would put the A-10 title race up in the air? W&M 28, JMU 24.
Delaware at Richmond. Would I love to be wrong about this game.. I don't see Richmond playing that perfect game against the Hens. The Hens "D" proves to be too tough, and the "O" proves to be too balanced. Delaware 24, Richmond 6.
Georgia Southern at Florida International. This game is going to be one big ugly in Miami. THe Golden Eagles will prove they can whup it up in Miami as well as Statesboro. GSU 58, FIU 3.
Furman at Wofford. Furman wins, and they will win the SoCon and probably get seeded in the I-AA playoffs. Wofford wins, and they can punch their ticket for the I-AA playoffs... but even if they lose, they still have a fighing chance. Wofford hasn't really yet beaten a quality opponent, and they won't beat a quality opponent today, even one coming off a huge win last week. Furman 42, Wofford 14.
Western Illinois at Western Kentucky. WIU can't stop anybody. The Hilltoppers have not impressed, but no way WIU will go into Bowling Green and beat a playoff-bound team. WKU 51, WIU 7.
Indiana St. at Southern Illinois. The Sycamores have lost 5 in a row. I'm banking on the fact that the #1 rated Salukis will make it 6. SIU 51, Indiana St. 9.
NC A&T at Hampton. The Pirates will make I-AA at-large playoff hopefuls around the land heave a sigh of relief by winning the game and clinching the MEAC title. Hampton 42, NC A&T 28.
Jacksonville St. at Eastern Illinois. This game looks like a real trap game to me... however... the Panthers are out of the playoff hunt, while the Gamecocks are one win away from clinching the OVC. Give me the scenario that all I-AA at-large teams are hoping for - but in a closer game that people expect. Jacksonville St. 24, EIU 22.
Sam Houston St. at Northwestern St. Sam Houston St. can do a lot of I-AA teams a favor by doing what nobody else has done this year - beat the Demons at Natchitoches. Can they? I think they. Although the Bearkat's defense gave up 47 points to hapless McNeese St. last week, I think they right the ship - but it will be a classic. Sam Houston 28, NW St. 27.
Sacramento St. at Montana. The Hornets pulled the shocker against Montana St. at home last week 38-28. They will find times in Bozeman much more difficult. Montana 38, Sac St. 17.
Eastern Washington at Montana St. The Eagles have been ripping through their schedule this year, and a win will clinch them a playoff spot. The Bobcats, after getting upset last week by Sacramento St., need a win this week to stay alive. The loser is definitely out of the playoff picture. Two deperate teams - who to choose? The Eagles are the hotter team - but the Bobcats are at home. After lots of thought, have to go with the hot team - the Eagles. MSU have squeaked by way too many cupcakes this year. It will be close, but EWU will prevail. EWU 31, MSU 28.
Northern Colorado/Cal Poly. Can Cal Poly get off the schneid, after losing 2 straight? I'm betting yes against a Northern Colorado team that surprisingly is still in the hunt for the Great West title (which does not come with an I-AA playoff bid). It will not be easy, but Cal Poly should pull this out in the end, keeing their playoff hopes alive. Cal Poly 24, NCU 17.
Lehigh/Fordham, 12:30PM: Be there!
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